Kkkristianity
Photo by Christian Wiediger
“On Thanksgiving Day in 1915, a former Methodist circuit-rider assembled a group of white men to hold a ceremony. They constructed an altar of stone and placed on it an American flag and a Bible…”
And they burned a cross.
“…[the KKK] fused Christianity, nationalism, and white supremacy into a toxic ideology of hate.”
“Many Klan members actively participated in their local churches, and some of the same men who conducted night rides on Saturday ascended to the pulpit to preach on Sunday.”
“…membership numbered between three and five million in the North alone.”
“Many people believed that the KKK stood for the best of the ‘American way,’ and in their minds, that meant the Christian way as well.”
- Jemar Tisby, The Color of Compromise
We tend to think of the Klan as a hate-filled, fringe, terrorist group. And while it certainly was/is hate-filled and a terrorist group, it has not always been so “fringe.” Only a hundred years ago, its message was WILDLY popular among average, white Christians (from whom many of us descend).
You might rightly protest: “But, they weren’t really Christians! They had nothing to do with Christ! I don’t associate myself with anyone of the sort! What a disgusting use of the Bible and the name of Jesus!”
Agreed. But, why? I mean, how can we tell that theirs is a grossly distorted version of Christianity (when millions of regular “Christians” in that day didn’t see a problem)? More to the point: How can we tell that ours is a true, legitimate version of Christianity?
. . .
There’s a moment late in Jesus’ ministry when he talks about what “judgment” will look like when he sits on the kingly throne of the universe. With all the nations of the world assembled before him, he says he’ll look out and recognize some as “righteous” — the people who gave him something to eat, provided clothes for him to wear, looked after him when he was sick, and visited him in prison. These are the ones he will welcome into his kingdom.
They stand out (not by the beliefs in their head or the words of their mouth but) by their loving behaviors.
In being chosen, some of these declared-righteous people are super confused, though…they don’t remember seeing Jesus at all (and certainly not naked).
Uhh…
“‘…when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to see you?’ Then the king will answer them, ‘I’m telling you the truth: when you did it to one of the least significant of my brothers and sisters here, you did it to me.’”
An interesting note: it appears that “love for neighbor” functions as love for God, whether or not we consciously label it as such, or even recognize God in the process! Somehow when we clothe “one of the least significant,” it translates to clothing Jesus. And by this action, we are proven “righteous.”
Not in a self-righteous way, though, because it’s not done to be seen or for points! It is simply how a life of LOVE reacts…what LOVE naturally produces in us.
“Then [the king] will say to those on his left hand, ‘Get away from me! You’re accursed! Go to the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! Why? Because I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat! I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink!” (etc. etc.)
“Then they too will answer, ‘Master, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t do anything for you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I’m telling you the truth: when you didn’t do it for one of the least significant of my brothers and sisters here, you didn’t do it for me.’ And they will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous will go into everlasting life.”
Oh boy…how often does Jesus invoke the everlasting fires of hell to get his point across?! It is as if he’s saying PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Here we see that love for God and love for neighbor are intimately joined; inseparable. And that our perceived love for God is not actualized until backed by love for neighbor.
In an earlier speech, Jesus makes a similar point:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my father in heaven. On that day lots of people will say to me, ‘Master, Master — we prophesied in your name, didn’t we? We cast out demons in your name! We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name! Then I will have to say to them, ‘I never knew you! You’re a bunch of evildoers — go away from me!’”
WHO are the ones invoking Jesus’ name to “prophesy” and “cast out demons”? I’ll give you a clue… it’s NOT the atheists!
To some of us who claim his name, Jesus might have to say, “I never knew you.”
Why? Because we did not “DO the will of his father” (though we did do a lot of other stuff!!!).
Because… if the “the least significant” don’t know us by our love, Jesus doesn’t know us either.
. . .
What are American Christians known for today?
Promoting patriotism to God, country, and flag? Fighting to get prayer back in public schools? Supporting police agencies? Protecting the rights of business owners to refuse service to whomever they desire? Exposing communists?
Oh, my bad, those were the goals of the United Klans of America in 1976…a striking resemblance, though!
If your version of Christianity has more in common with the Klan than the Kingdom of Jesus, there’s a good chance you too find yourself inside a gross distortion of Christianity.
What are American Christians known for today?
Radical love for “neighbor”? Or a toxic ideology of hate?
. . .
This is why we must submit ourselves to Jesus’ way of judging…
Because often the very things we think are “righteous” turn out to be evil, and the very people we think are trash turn out to be King Jesus in plain clothes.
When we refuse to see the Image of God in asylum seekers, the incarcerated, the queer community…
When we refuse to declare how very much Black lives matter…
We effectively leave Jesus out in the cold.
A stranger, unwelcomed. A prisoner, forgotten.
Hungry, sick, naked, and discarded.
. . .
Before you say “yes, but” and push back with theological caveats and disclaimers, I’d invite you to sit with a VERY IMPORTANT question:
Do _____ people know you by your love?
Try filling in the blank with Black. Indigenous. Undocumented. Muslim. Atheist. Gay. Trans. The unhoused. The most marginalized. The most excluded. The most receiving of violence and hate. The most prone to depression and suicide. Do THEY know you by your love?
If not, whatever theological framework you’re working with is drained of its weight and authority; full stop.
Sit with it.
Inspired by…
Jemar Tisby’s The Color of Compromise (must read!), especially ch. 6.
Olivia B. Waxman’s “How the KKK’s Influence Spread in Northern States.”
“Ku Klux Klan: A Report to the Illinois General Assembly” (Appendix C: “Goals of the United Klans of America”).
N.T. Wright’s The Kingdom New Testament translation (Matthew 7:21–23 and 25:31–46).
